Exmouth Town came from behind to book their place in the FA Cup first qualifying round, as they beat Buckland 2-1 at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Goals from Matt Wright and Luke Steer cancelled out Ryan Bush’s opener, in what was a much-improved second half display.

It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game, as Cameron Sangster was left unmarked from a corner, but he was unable to punish the Town defence.

Wright would fire back for Exmouth, with Jordan Duffey equal to his powerful low effort.

Buckland will feel like they should have taken the lead after 25 minutes, with Bush getting on the end of a driven cross, but diverting his effort wide.

Aaron Dearing made a fantastic save after Ruben Kane set up Sean Thomson, with the goalkeeper tipping the ball over the bar.

Unfortunately, Town were once again punished from a corner, as Bush got up well at the near post to head the ball home.

Exmouth would have a half-chance to level the game up straight away, with Wright’s effort being saved by Duffey, but they deservedly went into the break behind.

The hosts were able to step up their intensity in the second half, and this would pay dividends for them as Wright perfectly met a superb delivery from former Buckland man Sam Morcom, and levelled the game up.

With the momentum in Town’s favour, a Wright flick set through Steer, who capitalised on a hesitation at the back to go around Duffey, and calmly slot the ball into the empty net.

Aarron Denny tried to add to an ever-growing list of goal of the season contenders, but his half-volley was straight at the goalkeeper.

It perhaps should have been three, as a corner scrambled around before falling to Wright, but his volley flew over the bar.

Buckland would take control of the game, looking for an equaliser, but Town would defend resiliently, and not allow the Western League side to create anything clear-cut from open play.

A Jack Baxter volley would be deflected wide, with the following corner ending up allowing a Town counter-attack with Ben Steer being denied by Duffey.

There is still plenty of room for improvement, but Town will be happy to have secured a place in the next round, and will take the positives into next weekend’s clash with Melksham.

Line-Up: Dearing, Belsten, Morcom (Cann, 78), Landricombe, Knowles, Shipton, Slater (McCue, 65), L.Steer (Denny, 61), Griffith (B.Steer, 65), Kennell, Wright.

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe, Shore, Butcher.